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Two-time defending champion Rogers Heritage High School will host Mt. Vernon (Mo.) on opening night of the 14th annual Arvest Hoopfest, to be played Dec. 6-8.

In addition to Rogers Heritage and Mt. Vernon, the field will include: Carl Junction (Mo.), Clarksville, Fort Smith Southside, Rogers, Waynesville (Mo.) and Webb City (Mo.). Hight-Jackson Associates is the presenting sponsor of the tournament, which includes teams from outside Arkansas for the 11th consecutive year.

“Arvest Hoopfest has become synonymous with the start of basketball season, and this year is no different,” Rogers Public Schools athletics director Keith Kilgore said. “We look forward to some great games as all of these teams get the chance to face good competition before they head into their conference seasons. We expect another fantastic tournament.”

Webb City and 2017 runner-up Fort Smith Southside will get the tournament started at 4 p.m. on Dec. 6. That game will be followed by Clarksville vs. Waynesville at 5:30 p.m. Rogers and Carl Junction will play at 7 p.m., followed by Rogers Heritage-Mt. Vernon at 8:30 p.m.

There will be four games on Dec. 7-8 as well, with the championship game set for 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 8. A plaque will be presented to the champions, along with individual medals to the players of the championship team. Players from the second-place team also will receive individual medals as well.

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Arvest Bank is pleased to once again host one of the area’s most eagerly anticipated early-season boys basketball tournaments – the Arvest Classic – beginning Nov. 29 at the Parkview High School Fieldhouse in Springfield.Host team Parkview, which finished last season ranked No. 10 in the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Class 5 ranking, will play Notre Dame Regional from Cape Girardeau in first-round action at 7 p.m. Notre Dame Regional is one of two new participants in the Arvest Classic this season, joining Helias Catholic from Jefferson City.

Friday’s second-round games also start at 4 p.m., while Saturday’s action begins at 11 a.m. The tournament championship game is expected to start at about 4 p.m. on Saturday.

“The Arvest Classic typically provides teams with good early-season tests, and we expect the same this year,” Arvest Bank Springfield president Brad Crain said. “We also have some new teams playing this year, in addition to several out-of-area teams, which adds to the excitement level surrounding this tournament. Just like the players and coaches, we are ready for tip-off.”

In addition to the games, Arvest will team with Make-A-Wish Missouri & Kansas for a special presentation at halftime of Saturday’s 11 a.m. game. Arvest also will present an awards ceremony following the championship game.

The Cassville R-IV School District’s Bright Futures program recently got a boost from the Arvest Foundation.The $4,000 gift was announced recently, and will help Bright Futures Cassville address various needs in its mission to help children succeed. Bright Futures Cassville is a not-for-profit organization founded in 2011

"Arvest Bank continues to be an outstanding partner," Cassville R-IV superintendent Richard Asbill said. "We appreciate Arvest’s efforts to help our students be successful in school and our community. As a community partner, Arvest Bank understands the importance of ensuring the basic needs of students are met, and we greatly appreciate that dedication and commitment to our children."

“We are pleased to present this donation on behalf of the Arvest Foundation to support Bright Futures Cassville,” local bank president Craig Rivaldo said. “The work this group does is vital, and this donation is just one of many we have made throughout the area that demonstrates the foundation’s ongoing commitment to education and to the children in the area.”

Local children in the Greenwood area will benefit from a $2,000 donation from the Arvest Foundation.The gift was announced today at the Focus on Greenwood facility in Greenwood. Jamie Skinner of Arvest Bank was on hand to present the check.

The funds will be used to purchase a prosthetic devise for a local student as well as eyeglasses for students that are recommended by the school nurse.

“The funds will be used to go toward the cost of the prosthetic device and some of the continuing care which will be required for our amputee, Miss Jessica Wilson,” Said Dr. Evan Rowe, Focus on Greenwood member, “With the grant from Arvest Bank, it is much easier for our organization, Focus on Greenwood, to provide the prosthetic device. As you can imagine, a prosthetic is extremely expensive and fortunately we are getting an exceptional deal both from Össur and from Francois Van Der Watt, and thanks to the generous donation we are able to make this event possible. Without the funding there would have been very little money to go toward other community programs, as the majority of the proceeds would have all gone to the prosthetic.

“Any extra funding left over after the prosthetic costs have been settled will be placed in the general fund to be used by Focus on Greenwood for other community needs. This could include glasses for kids, shoes for kids, medical assistance to those in need, scholarships for local seniors or to go toward purchasing things needed for those kids in the Angel Tree Program.”

“We are pleased to present Focus on Greenwood this donation on behalf of the Arvest Foundation,” Skinner said. “With this donation, Focus on Greenwood was not only able to provide a prosthetic device to a very well-deserving recipient, but also able to have funds leftover to support many other needs in our community. We are very thankful for the Arvest Foundation allowing us to provide local support to the communities that we serve.”

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